Game feel is something that most titles need to nail if they want players to have a great time with their titles. While it's fun to promote realism from time to time, it can detract from the overall experience if actions feel sluggish and the game simply isn't all that fun to play.
8 Best RPGs That Focus On Boss Fights
Boss fights are typically a culmination in RPGs, but in the following games, they're the main focus of the gameplay.
Fun and game feel are two sides of the same coin, which is why games that nail this balance deserve a ton of praise. Players love the idea of interacting with tight gameplay mechanics and figuring out the best way to tackle the many challenges that stand in their way.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Swinging Around And Smashing Enemies To A Pulp Feels Great Every Single Time
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
A game featuring Spider-Man needs to feature smooth movement that does justice to the act of swinging around in these open-world environments. Insomniac Games nailed this with the first Marvel's Spider-Man title and perfected this movement in the sequel.
Switching between swinging and gliding was more engaging than fans assumed, and the combat is improved just enough for fans to love the new tools in the Spider-Men's arsenal. Even the parry mechanic that fans had mixed opinions about ended up being an excellent addition to the gameplay, especially once players realized that they could make battles against brutes easier with this defensive tool.
Dragon's Dogma 2
Combat Is Aggressive, Visceral, And Satisfying
Dragon's Dogma 2
- Released
- March 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Capcom is the master of integrating excellent combat systems in their video games, and Dragon's Dogma 2 is no exception. The game could've been a bigger improvement over its predecessor, but that should take nothing away from the amazing game feel of this title.
The starting Vocations are engaging enough without completely exhausting players, giving them the motivation they need to unlock more advanced Vocations and try out different play styles. The boss fights in this title are off the charts, and climbing up the head of a Cyclops to wail on them never gets old.
Batman: Arkham Knight
Combat And Stealth Is Perfected In The Final Arkham Game
Batman: Arkham Knight
- Released
- June 23, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action
Rocksteady's patented combat system is a game-changer that has inspired several titles ever since. While the story of Arkham Knight may have some issues, there's no denying that both combat and stealth feel incredible in this game.
8 Open-world Games With Groundbreaking Combat Mechanics
These great games showcase groundbreaking combat mechanics that add new levels of immersion and engagement in open-world games.
Smashing enemies to a pulp with the classic counter-focused combat feels great, especially when players use Batman's wide array of gadgets to catch enemies unawares. Meanwhile, Predator levels feel better than ever, with Batman being able to use fear to take out multiple enemies at once in action-packed takedown sequences.
Ghost Of Tsushima
The Game's Implementation Of Combat And Stealth Is Both Excellent
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
As beautiful as Ghost of Tsushima is, it's not the old part of the game that players love. The combat is in a class of its own and lets players slowly unlock new styles, allowing them to take on the many enemy types in this game.
Players will love mastering Jin's moveset, growing his Legend to unlock more techniques and become a whirlwind of death and destruction in combat. It helps that stealth is also tantalizing in its own right, to the point where players won't mind breaking the samurai honor code from time to time and taking out enemies from the shadows.
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Sneaking Around And Taking Enemies Out Feels Amazing
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action, Open-World
The Phantom Pain is a must-play title for fans of open-world stealth games. Controlling Snake in high-stakes missions that involve clearing areas and taking out hostiles without being spotted feels great every single time.
The title manages to be quirky without losing its game feel, making the simple act of sneaking around more riveting than it has any right to be. Even after a decade since its launch, there's something about The Phantom Pain's tantalizing stealth gameplay that keeps players coming back for more.
Cyberpunk 2077
Parkour, Combat, And Stealth All Feel Great, Especially With Update 2.0
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
While The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was a great title in its own right, some people may argue that the game feel wasn't something that this title nailed entirely. The same can't be said for Cyberpunk 2077, where combat, stealth, and movement all feel great to mess around with.
8 Best Open-World Games Where Exploring Freely Is More Rewarding Than The Main Story
These open-world games do offer a main story campaign to complete, but their settings are so immersive that exploration almost always takes priority.
Using parkour around Night City, using Quickhacks to debilitate opponents from the shadows, and using both melee & ranged weapons to tear enemies apart never gets old. Update 2.0 further improved the game feel of Cyberpunk 2077 and makes it one of the greatest video games players can get their hands on.
Elden Ring
FromSoftware's Combat Mechanics Feel Just As Tight As Ever
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
One of the biggest reasons why FromSoftware's modern action RPGs became so popular was how it nailed a game feel that made combat scintillating and made it easy for players to blame themselves if they died in battle. Elden Ring is no exception, with the addition of jumping and new combat maneuvers ensuring that gameplay feels better than ever before.
The open world is also designed brilliantly and ensures that players will have a great time exploring the open world and finding its secrets. Eventually, players will master the game's combat and get strong enough to take out the title's toughest bosses without breaking a sweat.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Perfects The Solid Gameplay From Breath Of The Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
One of the major reasons why both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom became major hits was because of how much fun it was to play both titles. Game feel is something that both games nailed, and it's amazing how playing Tears of the Kingdom can feel like both a warm hug and a tense affair.
Players will love using Ultrahand to craft creative contraptions that can help them both in and out of combat, while the combat from the first game is largely unchanged because of how it nailed the basics. Both games were huge steps forward for open-world gaming and ensured that players will have a blast with what Tears of the Kingdom and its predecessor bring to the table.
8 Action-Adventure Games With The Best Melee Combat, Ranked
The melee combat in these action-adventure games is bound to leave players impressed. Here are the best for getting up close and personal.